TCT SuperCoach: Your Weekly Guide to Surviving the Season

(League Code: 704791)

Round 2 delivered plenty of early-season chaos for SuperCoach players, with cheapies stealing the spotlight, several premium big dogs failing to fire, and a wave of injuries forcing coaches into some urgent decisions ahead of the game’s first batch of price rises. A few sides also reminded us how tough they can be on SuperCoach scoring, with Penrith’s defence returning to its point-killing best.

Congratulations to Mark’s team, The Real dEEL, who recorded the top score in the TCT league this week with an impressive 1,412 points. That performance also sees Mark jump into the overall lead in the TCT SuperCoach league after two rounds.

My Team

I finished Round 2 with 1,261 points, which I’m not overly thrilled about. This score has seen me slip to 9^th place in the TCT SuperCoach league. Fortunately, NRL SuperCoach is a long season, so there’s plenty of time to climb back up the ladder.

Trade-wise, I brought in Noah Martin as suggested in last week’s article. My second trade was more of a gut play, bringing in James Tedesco right before the Roosters v Bunnies game kicked off. I knew I needed to move Drinky on at some stage, so I decided to take the plunge early. It didn’t quite pay off, with a much lower score than hoped (67 points), especially considering Teddy scored a try in the last seconds of the game. It also doesn’t help that he faces a tough clash against Penrith this week, which doesn’t exactly scream points for Teddy. That said, there’s so much cash generation available this year that I’m comfortable bringing in an elite SuperCoach player early, even if it means he loses a bit of value in the short term.

I also ended up handing the captaincy to Herbie Farnworth. While it wasn’t the massive score I’d hoped for, he still managed 78 points without any major attacking stats, so I probably got away with one there.

 

Round 2 Review

Let’s break down the key SuperCoach takeaways from Round 2:

 

Premium Guns

 

Payne Haas (FRF – $852.7k – 103 points):

A strong return from Haas and a rewarding captaincy call for those who backed him. That said, I’m starting to ease slightly on the “set-and-forget” captain tag that I’d previously given him. His 57-minute stint is worth noting, and he did benefit from one of the softer tries you’ll see, banking an easy 27 points in a single play. Still elite, but perhaps not quite the automatic captaincy lock he once looked.

Reece Walsh (FLB – $835.6k – 99 points):

Classic Walsh. Electric, unpredictable, and riddled with errors. Two tries and a big score, but there were some visible concerns around his knee and shoulder during the game. With Adam Reynolds expected to miss time, it should boost Walsh’s output. He takes on more responsibility, likely adds the goal-kicking, and becomes the focal point of the attack. Notably, his elite run of form late last season came predominantly without Reynolds in the side.

Harry Grant (HOK – $606.3k – 108 points):

Grant has firmed himself as the hooker option this season. At just $600k, he looks to be the standout in quite a dull position. He’s a buy if you don’t have him.

Nathan Cleary (HFB – $826.1k – 109 points):

This was a masterclass in control from Cleary, capped off with a relatively simple try. Penrith’s tougher draw shouldn’t deter anyone, as Cleary consistently delivers regardless of the opposition. It wouldn’t be surprising to see a wave of coaches shifting from Sam Walker to Cleary in the coming weeks.

 

Mid-Range Movers

 

Sua Fa’alogo (FLB – $511.7k – 155 points):

Wow. The first 150+ score of the season, and I’ll admit that I got this one wrong. Sua exploded late with a rapid 12-minute hat-trick. Importantly, he was tracking well even before the try-scoring blitz. He’s firmly in must-have territory, and his -110 breakeven means he’ll skyrocket to $750k plus in no time. A priority buy.

Kelma Tuilagi (2RF – $515.9k – 113 points):

A huge two-try performance from Kelma, showcasing the attacking upside that he’s known for. The concern, as always, is his defence. While defence barely affects SuperCoach scoring directly, it does impact his job security and minutes, and that’s the real risk with Kelma.

Isaiah Iongi (FLB – $640.8k – 99 points):

Averaging 83 points across two games, including one game where Parra were absolutely towelled up by Melbourne, which makes it even more impressive. At just 3% ownership, Iongi shapes as a genuine POD. He’s exciting to watch and clearly has scoring upside but may continue to fly under the radar given the stacked fullback position and more pressing trade priorities.

 

Leka Halasima (2RF – $502.4k – 105 points):

A tricky one to get a read on. When Leka plays 80 minutes, he looks like an absolute must-have. His base is great, and his attacking upside is even better, as was shown by his two-try effort here. However, his extended minutes came off the back of a pre-game injury to Kurt Capewell. If he locks down the role consistently, he’ll force his way into plenty of teams. One to watch closely.

Jackson Ford (FRF – $588.2k – 102 points):

Flying under the radar in just 1% of teams, Ford is quietly averaging 85. The minutes are there, the output is consistent, and he looks to be in great form. The only downside relates to Mitch Barnett, who is expected to return soon.

Tanah Boyd (HFB – $574.5k – 91 points):

Another strong showing from Boyd, who is shaping as a serious cash generation play. With a -41 breakeven, his price will rise rapidly if he maintains this form. Could definitely be a short-term trade option as a stepping stone to a more expensive player.

Adam Douehi (HFB – $556k – 115 points):

Credit to those who started with Douehi and held through the Round 1 bye, this was the payoff. He looked excellent, contributing across the board with base stats, attacking involvement, and goal-kicking. If he can stay fit, he’s a very appealing option. Worth monitoring for now, especially with the Tigers’ delayed price changes.

Jarome Luai (5/8 – $465.7k – 115 points):

A standout performance with three try assists and one try, and a reminder of what Luai is capable of when he’s settled in his preferred role. The only issue is consistency. Historically, his scores can swing wildly week-to-week. Still, this was very encouraging. Another one to keep an eye on.

Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (2RF – $451.8k – 102 points):

One of the most overlooked performers right now, despite the fact he’s averaging 92 points. His base stats are brilliant (65 this week) whilst also producing attacking stats. With a -42 breakeven, his price is set to rise quickly. A very interesting option that I’m genuinely considering trading into my team.

 

Cheapies to Monitor

 

Ryan Couchman (2RF – $235.6k – 69 points):

It feels strange calling a bench player a must-have, but that’s where we’re at. Couchman’s role is solid, and the minutes are more than enough, currently averaging 58 per game. He’s an absolute workhorse, so the PPM is awesome, and this has led to a -65 breakeven. The fact he’s coming off the bench really doesn’t matter. Strong buy.

Jonah Pezet (5/8 – $235.6k – 82 points):

I’d say most coaches, myself included, didn’t actually play Pezet this week, but it’s great to see the score regardless. That 82 will sit nicely in his rolling average for the next couple of rounds. A tough one for those who traded him out early, especially if it was for someone like Cody Walker, who underperformed. Patience is the key with these cheapies.

Ativalu Lisati (2RF – $269.4k – 77 points):

80 minutes, elite base stats, and playing in a Melbourne system, so there’s plenty to like here. The -80 breakeven only adds to the appeal. An injury to Shawn Blore looked to open the door for job security, although early reports suggest it may not be as serious as first thought. Even so, Lisati still shapes as a strong buy if you don’t already own him.

 

Players of Concern

 

Cody Walker (5/8 – $399.2k – 34 points):

Not what owners were hoping for after last week’s hype. There’s no need to panic sell in any way, but it’s definitely a concern. One ongoing issue with Cody is how easily he gets frustrated in games, which can take him out of the contest. Control your temper Cody, my SuperCoach team needs you.

Sam Walker (HFB – $683.3k. – 51 points):

This looks like the end of the road for many owners. He’s not controlling games as expected, especially compared to what we saw in the trials. A matchup with Penrith doesn’t inspire much confidence either, and a low score is well within range given their defence. I’ll be selling.

Reed Mahoney (HOK – $418.1k – 41 points):

57 minutes for just 41 points is underwhelming. Not an urgent trade, unless you don’t own Harry Grant, but it’s something to monitor. Soni Luke cut into his minutes, although he didn’t exactly impress. With limited hooker options available, Mahoney probably stays for now, but the situation isn’t ideal.

Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (2RF/FRF – $687.6k – 45 points):

This is a big concern. 47 minutes for 45 points simply isn’t going to cut it at this price. If those minutes don’t improve, his value will plummet quickly. With so many strong options in the 2RF, this feels like a clear sell before further damage is done.

Isaah Yeo (2RF – $610.1k – 63 points):

Mr Consistent, but not in the way I’d like. Scores around 60 aren’t moving the needle, especially given the expectations on Yeo with the new SuperCoach scoring. Reduced minutes due to Jack Cogger plays a big part in this. With Cogger sidelined through concussion protocols, Yeo gets a short-term reprieve, but longer-term, there are simply so many higher-upside options worth targeting at the 2RF position.

 

Team List Watch

• Reece Robson returns, pushing Benaiah Ioelu back to the bench. A tough result for Ioelu owners.
• Adam Reynolds is named to start, but mail suggests he may be a late out. One to monitor. Could be very good for Reece Walsh stocks.
• Big reshuffle for the Knights: Fletcher Hunt moves to fullback with Kayln Ponga out (hamstring – 6-8 wks), while Fletcher Sharpe returns to cover Dylan Brown (MCL – 4 wks).
• Leka Halasima starts, with Kurt Capewell sidelined until Round 6 (calf).
• Bottom-dollar Luke Hanson makes his NRL debut, filling in for Chanel Harris-Tavita (concussion).
• Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad drops out due to concussion protocols, making way for Taine Tuaupiki at the fullback position.
• J’maine Hopgood returns at prop, Kelma Tuilagi keeps his spot, Jack Williams is named to start at lock, and JDB drops to the bench.
• Jacob Liddle is named at 14, meaning one less forward on the Dragons bench. This could boost the minutes of middles but watch for Damien Cook to rotate into the 13 which may offset that.
• Zac Laybutt is named on the extended bench but doesn’t start over Tom Chester. This has late-change risk written all over it, especially with the Cowboys playing in the final game of the round. Be very careful if you choose to play Tom Chester in your 18 this week. If you’re going to, like myself, have a back-up Titans player in the case that he does drop out.
• Jayden Campbell is also on the extended bench. If fit, he’s a strong chance to come into the starting side over Lachlan Ilias before kick-off.
• Manly have the bye.

 

My Trades

For this week, I’m planning to bring in Nathan Cleary for Sam Walker, Ryan Couchman for Isaah Yeo, and move Kalyn Ponga to Sua Fa’alogo.

Similar to my Teddy trade last round, I want to get Cleary in ASAP and lock down the halfback spot for a while. Sam Walker hasn’t quite delivered as expected and comes up against Penrith this week, which doesn’t make things any easier.

With Yeo, as mentioned in my Players of Concern, he’s not an urgent sell, but Couchman feels like an urgent buy. With Yeo a bit stagnant, I’d rather jump on Couchman now before his price starts to skyrocket.

The move from Ponga to Sua is pretty straightforward. Ponga is out for 6-8 weeks, while Sua looks set to make an absolute motzer due to some outrageous performances.

 

Captaincy

I’m going with the captaincy on Nathan Cleary this round. The Panthers look in top form, and I expect them to put a big score on the Roosters. Since the Panthers v Roosters game is the second game of the week, I’ll have to put the VC on someone from the Raiders v Bulldogs clash. My pick for that would have to be Stephen Crichton, as he’s the best player in my team from that game. If I had Jacob Kiraz, I’d be placing the VC on him over Crichton.

There’s also a strong case for captaining Sua Fa’alogo. He’s in incredible form and faces the shaky Broncos defence. I’m kind of persuading myself as I write this. If I do go with Sua as captain, the VC would definitely go on Cleary.

 

The Cumberland Throw has its own SuperCoach league (code: 704791). Jump in and see how your squad stacks up against me and the rest of the community!

 

I’m keen to hear your thoughts and questions – drop them below. See you next week!

 

SC Adrian